A Killer Spree

When, in 1975, Phnom Penh fell under the control of the Khmer Rouge, the communist guerrilla group led by Pol Pot forced all city residents into the countryside and to labor camps. History says that for 3 years, 8 months, and 20 days, every Cambodian family lost at least one relative.

Choeung Ek (Killing Fields) Genocidal Center

Every 2-3 weeks, trucks brought prisoners blindfolded (commoners who were thought to be lazy (?) or political enemies) from Tuol Sleng to this place to be bludgeoned to death. At one point, over 300 prisoners a day were liquidated. They used knives hoes, shackles, hatchet, cart axles to kill the victims.

Carefully considering the place was surrounded by paddy fields in which people worked, these ruthless men used chemical substances to eliminate stench and also QUICKLY kill those people buried alive. A tree was also used to hang a loudspeaker to play sounds that would be louder than the moans of the victims as they were executed.

Towards the '80s, 86 out of 126 mass graves of women, children, Khmer diplomats, peasants, foreigners were unearthed. A few tens of them are yet to be dug up.


Mass Grave of Victims with Cut Heads

Mass Grave of Men Victims

Stupa with 8895 skulls in a 7-level glass display

Human skull remains in a glass display at Choeung Ek

Human skull remains in a glass display at Choeung Ek

The stupa was built to preserve the remains and as a memorial for those who died under the Pol Pot regime.



The most complicated tree I've seen


As we exited the place, Khosal explained why.
'People were killed if the regime didn’t like them. If they were educated. If they didn’t work hard enough. If they came from different ethnic groups. Or if they showed sympathy when their family members were taken away to be killed.'

The flimsiest pretext to kill people. I still don't understand why.